This is from the album's booklet:

16. Magpie

The title of the CD comes from this song. I wrote it back in the sixties, about the time of recording 'Folk Songs of Old England' with Tim Hart, but never sang it because a TV program and song came out at around the same time and seemed to conflict with it. I haven't thought about since then, but it felt appropiiate to perform it here.

MAGPIE
(Maddy Prior)

Magpie, you lie, you lied in your teeth,
You said you were no thief
You came at leisure,
You stole your pleasure,
You left with treasure, magpie

One for sorrow
Two for joy
Three for a wedding
Four for a boy
Five for a fiddler
Six for a dance
Seven for Old England
And eight for France

Magpie, so sly, swoop down from your perch
With beady eye you search
The warning signal
Of the blackbird startled
Ends your vigil, magpie

Magpie, fly high, way out of my reach
You chatter and you screech.
Beware the talons
Of the peregrine falcon
That kills for certain, magpie.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1bFHUgO01I